Eccentric-disc plate grapple



March 8, 1966 c. P. FARMER ETAL 3,239,253

ECCENTRIC-DISC PLATE GRAPPLE Filed 001;. 15, 1963 INVENTOR3. CLAYTON P FARMER and JAMES R. FRANKS y p mlz ffizfia Attorney United States Patent 3,239,263 EQCENTRIC-DISC PLATE GRAPPLE Elayton ll. Farmer and James R. Franks, Falls Township, Bucks County, Pa, assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 316,365 1 Claim. (Cl. 294-19) This invention relates to a hand operated grapple or wrench which is adapted, among other uses, to facilitating the manual ground steadying and guidance generally attending the conveyance of heavy metal plates and shapes by overhead cranes in steel mills.

Heavy structural shapes and plates being lifted or moved by an overhead crane usually require some control by a man on the ground. Tools to facilitate this operation have conventionally consisted of hooks with open U- shaped ends. Such tools do not grip the materials being lifted or moved, and accordingly positive control cannot be exercised over them, as is especially apparent if some pulling action is required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the man on the ground with a grapple or wrench which permits obtaining a positive grip on the plate or shape being handled.

In addition to providing a positive grip, it is a further object to permit attaining such grip by one-hand operation of the tool.

The nature of the invention will become further apparent by reference to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an overall plan view of the tool of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the plate engaging discs and proximate supporting structure and mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the improved tool consists of a handle 11 attached to a tube 12, a shaft 13 within tube 12 and a handle 14 on the end of shaft 13. Handle 14 is disposed within handle 11 so that both can be held with one hand. On the opposite end of tube 12 are attached side plates 15, which are roughly U-shaped. Discs 16 are rotatably attached between plates 15 by means of pins 17 which pass through eccentrically located holes in the discs. At one end, connecting links 18 are attached to discs 16 by means of pins 19 passing through holes in the discs, which are offset from the holes accommodating pins 17. Links 18 are attached at their other ends to block 20 by pins 21. Block 20 is welded to the end of shaft 13. There is a compression spring 22 around shaft 13 between block 20 and the end of pipe 12. Discs 16 are scored 23 on the edges for gripping the plates.

re use the device, the operator grasps handle 11 and places the U-shaped end of the wrench over the edge of the plate, shape, or other object to be guided. The plate may be in a horizontal, vertical, or tilted position. The

3,239,263 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 operator then pulls on handle 14, moving block 20 to the right, compressing spring 22 and causing discs 16 to rotate about pins 17. The edge of the plate is gripped by the discs and held tightly by the scored edges. The operator thus has a firm, positive grip on the plate, and can safely guide the plate into position. On release of handle 14, spring 22 causes block 20 to move to the left, rotating discs 16, releasing the grip on the plate, and allowing the wrench to be removed.

It will be noted that a pull on the tool, in the direction of the handle end, will necessarily tend to increase the pressure on the gripping surface through a tendency to further rotate the eccentric discs into closer proximity to each other.

While the foregoing embodiment of applicants invention has been presented in considerable detail, to facilitate practice thereof, modifications such as would appear to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains may be made without departure from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

A hand operated grapple for positively engaging the opposite surfaces of steel plate and the like comprising:

(a) a frame having a generally U-shaped opening adapted to encompass the opposite surfaces of said plate and the like near its edge;

(b) eccentrically pivoted discs rotatably mounted in the legs of said frame so that upon synchronous rotation of the discs, through a fraction of their circumferences, their peripheral surfaces may be caused to approach and retreat in relation to each other to provide plate gripping and release;

(c) a movable crosshead, spring loaded for release position return;

(d) elongated rigid links pivotally connected at one of their ends to said crosshead and at their other ends to said discs whereby upon crosshead movement said discs are rotated;

(e) a generally tubular arm extending generally from the base of the U of said frame, said arm having attached at its remote end a member adapted to receive pressure from the palm of the hand; and

(f) a movable shaft within said tubular arm, said shaft being attached at one end to said crosshead and having at its remote end a finger grip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 731,145 6/1903 Wilbur 29419 FOREIGN PATENTS 862,825 1/ 1953 Germany.

539,531 9/ 1941 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner. 

